Sign-flashing mechanism.



W. s. RYAN. SIGN FLASHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION P ILBD OUT. 28, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHBETS SHEET 1.

Figz

FILE"- 4..

INVENTOH W. s. RYAN. SIGN'FLASHING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 191 2. 1,100,917, Patented June 23,1914.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

UN TE STATES 13mm curios.

. WALTER s. men, 01" NEW YORK, N- Y.

SIGN-FLASHIlIG MncHAnrs Specification of Letters Patent.

matically with a minimum amount of arcing and consequent heating.

In the preferred embodiment oi the iii-.

-vention a resilient brush is adapted tobe engaged by a rotating segment for making, and continuing the circuit. The circumferential extent of this segmentandspeed of rotation determine the period of; time through which the circuit is energized. The angular adjustment of the segmenton i s shaft determines the time when the circuit is made and broken. 7

The special object 1 of the invention is to break the circuit quickly and minimize arcing. This is accomplished .by providing an auxiliary contact member which is: carried by the contact segment and adapted to move. relative thereto being under spring tension. As the contact segment rotates this auxiliary contact engages the brush and as'the auxiliaryconta'ct snaps out from under the brush,

the'brush snaps-across the path of movement of the contact segment and thoaauxiliary contact snaps across the path of movement of the brush, all'this while.;the"segmental' contact is rotating.

Figure 1, shows one formof mechanism embodying the improvements of my invention, the brush 'rcsting on the segment contact which. rotates inthe direction of the arrow. Fig. 2, shows the contacts. with the brush resting on the auxiliary, contact. Fig; 3, shows the contacts in the p'ositionswhich they occupy 'when the, auxiliary contact snaps from beneath the, brush. Fig. 4, is a perspective View of the auxiliary contact member. Fig. 5,,shows another iiormc an auxiliary contact construction, the brush resting on the segmental contact. Fig. 6, isv a view of the elements of Fig. 5, the brush resting on the auxiliary contact, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the segmental and auxiliary contact members of Figs. 5 and 6.

.the usual form of brush (not ing inward from the outer contact" end; A.

Y .lipplication sled October28, 1 912.. Serial No. 728,165..

of the common laminated outer ends if-desired for. instance, bymeans Patented June 2 3, 1914.

I The brush 1 illustrated iii thedrawing-is-i V metallic strip type supported by a suitable holder 2. The

strips may be secured together near theirfjso ofa clip 3 and an abutment' l may be provided to limit the downward-throw of the' brush. A rotatable contact'segm'en't "5 is secured onthe shaft- 6 by means of a set screw 7 or other suitable device so that the'* segment is insulated from the shaft but may be given its proper angular adjustment. on the shaft. lVhile I have illustrated'but one segment it is obvious that anynumber may be provided on the shaft 6 and adjusted to' give thedesired sequence of operation.- A

contact drum 8 is also shown and is.mounted onthe shaft '6 and which is engaged by shown) The brush holder and the shaft are allcarried by a suitable framework 9 soas t0j-' reserve their proper relative positions. i worm/h gearglO c'arriedby the shaft (Si-meshes withthe worm 11 which is on the shaft "12- with the pulley .13. The-motorltwith a driving pulley l5 and belt 16 is illustrateda's one' means for driving the shaft Sand its contact f gments usually continuously in one .direc- M. 3 I511 The auxiliary contact .17 is mounted on tion.

the pivot IScarried by the web of 'the contact segment 5 andhas an arm 19 extend-' springQO has one end secured tothe contact 7 segment and theother end secured-to the .arm 19 so as to normallyhold the auxiliary". contact member. in the'position shown in Fig. 1. As the contact segment rotates in the direction of the arrow, it comes into the position shown in Fig.2, with thebrushresting on the outer face of the. auxiliary contact.

member 17. The tensionlof the spring 20 is such that the pressure'of the brush on the auxiliary contact 17 moves the outercontact 20. As the contact segment 5- continuesto end inward against the-tension of thospring .1 i 1'- rotate in the directionrof thearrow, the" auxiliary contact 17 "snaps out from under I the end of the brush into theposition shown in Fig. 3 in full linesand then into the posi-,

tion shown in dotted lines. I prefer to pro-q vide two insulating blocks 21 and 22tcarried.

the brush and the contact member as the to the position shown in Fig. 3 with a quick snap action the arc is much more quickly and extensively elongated and therefore more thoroughly broken. By interposing the insulating b1ocks21 and 22 the arc is me-' tinguished.-

In order that the circuit may be more quickly and completely made I prefer to provide an insulating tip 23 for instance, of porcelain which is secured beneath the contact flange of the contact segment 5 and extends around, the end. As the contact segment rotates in the direction of the arrow, the insulated tip 23 engages beneath the end of the brush 1 and lifts it. As the contact segment and ti '23 continue to rotate, the end of the brus snaps off the outer edge of the tip .23 and down on to the contact surface of the segment 5.

In the form shown in Figs. 5, 6' and 7 the contact segment has an auxiliary contact member 26 with side flanges 27, 27, mounted on the hub of the main contact segment. A spring 28- holds. the auxiliary ing blocks 21 and 22 in Fig. 5 they may be contact yieldingly 1n the position shown in Fig. 5. As the contact segment rotates in the direction of the arrow, the brush 1 en'- gages the auxiliary contact ortion 26 which is thus frictionally retarde while the main portion of the contact segment '25 continues to rotate. The segment 25 is provided with a stop 29 and the auxiliary contact member is provided with a set screw 30 adapted to engage the stop 29 so that when the stop 29 engages the set screw 30 the auxiliary contact member again starts to rotate with the contact-segmentuntil the auxiliary contact snaps fsiom beneath the brush, the parts assuming the dotted line positions of Fig. 6. In this constructionit will be noted that the quick relative movement of the auxiliary contact .member greatly accelerates the break. While I have shown the insulatomitted as shown in Fig. 6.

The contact'face of the auxiliary contact member 17 may be'made separate and secured bya screw 31 and detachable from the body so as to bev readily replaced if desired. The, insulating block 22and the contact face may be both clamped by the same screw in a slot 32 (see Fig. 4).

What I claim is 1. In a sign flashing device, a rotating contact segmentyan auxiliary contact member carried by said contact segment and movable relative thereto, a brush for engaging said contact segment and said auxiliary contact and means for moving said auxiliary contact relative to said contact segment when disengaged'from said brush.

2. In a sign flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact member pivotally carried thereby, a brush for coacting with said contact segment and said auxiliary contact and a spring for moving said auxiliary contact member relative sald contact segment when disengaged from said brush. chanically intercepted and completely ex- 3. In a sign flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact carried by said contact segment and movable therewith and also having a limited movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the contact surface of said segment, a contact brush adapted to engage said segment and said auxiliary contact and having a direction of movement transverse to the direction of movement of the contact face of said segment and opposite to the direction of movement of said auxiliary contact, and means for snapping the auxiliary contactin a direction-away from the movement of the contact brush as the brush snaps from the auxiliary contact.

4. In a sign flashing device, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact member carried by said contact segment and movable relative thereto, a brush for engaging said contact segment and said auxiliary contact, means for moving said auxiliary contact relative to saidcontact segment when disengaged from said brush and means for intercepting the arc.

5. In a sign flashing mechanisnna rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact member pivotally carried thereby, a brush for coacting with said contact segment and 'said auxiliary contact, a spring for moving said auxiliary contact and means for intercepting the arc. a

6. In a sign' flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact carried by said contact segment and movable therewith and also having a limited movement in a direction transverse to the direc tion of movement of the contact surface of said segment, a contact brush adapted to engage said segment and said auxiliary contact and; having a direction of movement transverse to the direction of movement of the contact face of said segment and opposite to the 'direction of movement of said auxiliary contact and means for intercepting the are. I

7. In a sign flashing device, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact member carried by said contact segment and movable relative thereto, a brush for engaging said contact segment and said auxiliary contact, means for moving said auxiliary contact relative to said contact segment when disengag from said brush and insulating blocks carried by said auxiliary contact and by said brush for intercepting the are 8. In a sign flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact member pivotally carried thereby, a brush for coacting with said contact segment and said auxiliary contact, a spring for moving said auxiliary contact member and-insulate ing blocks carried by said auxiliary-contact and by said brush for intercepting the arc.

9. In a sign flashing mechanism, -a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact carried by said contact segment and movable therewith and also having a limited movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the contact surface of said segment, a contact brush adapted to engage said segment and said auxiliary contact and having a direction of movement transverse to the direction of movement of the contact face of said segment and opposite to the direction of movement of said auxiliary contact andnnsulating blocks car- J ried by said auxiliary contact and by said brush for intercepting the arc.

V 10. In a sign flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact pivotally carried thereby and having a contact surface adapted to be projected beyond the circumference of said segment, av contact brush for engaging said segment andsaid auxiliary contact and means for snapping the anxiliary contact relative'to said contact segment when disengaged from said brush.

11. In a sign flashing mechanism, a rotating contact segment, an auxiliary contact pivotally carried lggereby and having a contact surface adap to be projected beyond the circumferencsof said segment and a contact brush-for engaging said segment and said auxiliary contact and means for intercepting the-er r 12. In a cepting the arc,

13. in a s n fiat. contact segnie ber carried movable relative ingsaid cont contact 1' contact lati disengaged. ;1 contact member in face.

said contain" thereto, a bi 0' segm nt, an 51(- inovably carried Wicrebyi, 1 said contact segnientam so tension contact means for rota/ti its extension, resilient contact brush ed to bear upon saiu c itact segnn upon'its extension cont ment rotates and a s segment to a rt said extension ing said eaten .f segment Wlie' snaps from. s i crate the brea 15. In .a si i tating contact i member carri tive thereto 9.3a} face and a b u. ment and said co block connected c tercepting the are.

contact brusl 

